Billy Collins
5
The whole idea of it makes me feel
like I’m coming down with something,
something worse than any stomach ache
or the headaches I get from reading in bad light –
a kind of measles of the spirit,
Reread the title and lines 1-7.
a mumps of the psyche,1
What emotions are the speaker
a disfiguring chicken pox2 of the soul.
feeling, and why?
__________________________________________________________
1. psyche: the spirit or soul.
2. disfiguring chicken pox: Like measles and mumps, chicken pox was once a common childhood
disease. It caused pockmarks to appear on the skin, sometimes leaving scars behind.
10
15
20
25
30
You tell me it is too early to be looking back,
but that is because you have forgotten
the perfect simplicity of being one
and the beautiful complexity introduced by two.
But I can lie on my bed and remember every digit.
At four I was an Arabian wizard.
I could make myself invisible
by drinking a glass of milk a certain way.
At seven I was a soldier, at nine a prince.
But now I am mostly at the window
watching the late afternoon light.
Back then it never fell so solemnly
against the side of my tree house,
and my bicycle never leaned against the garage
as it does today,
all the dark blue speed drained out of it.
To whom do you
think the speaker is
talking in lines 8-11?
Reread lines 17-23.
What feelings do these
lines convey?
This is the beginning of sadness, I say to myself,
as I walk through the universe in my sneakers.
It is time to say good-bye to my imaginary friends,
time to turn the first big number.
It seems only yesterday I used to believe
there was nothing under my skin but light.
If you cut me I would shine.
But now when I fall upon the sidewalks of life,
I skin my knees. I bleed.
Reread lines 31-32.
What does the speaker
learn about himself?
Comprehension
1. Recall
In “Life Doesn’t Frighten Me,” what are the three things the
speaker isn’t afraid of?
2. Recall
In the first stanza, or group of lines, in “On Turning Ten,” what is
turning ten being compared to?
3. Summarize
How does the speaker of “On Turning Ten” feel about turning one
year older?
Text Analysis
4. Interpret Lines
The speaker in “On Turning Ten” says, “At four I was an Arabian
wizard” and “At seven I was a soldier, at nine a prince.” What is
the speaker referring to in these lines?
5. Reading Poetry
Look at the structure of the first stanza
(lines 1-7) in “On Turning Ten.” Explain how the sentence
structure and line lengths help convey the meaning of these lines.
6. Reading Poetry
Review the chart of your readings of the poems. Explain how your
understanding of the poems and their speakers changed with
each reading. Which words, or phrases had the greatest effect on
you?
7. Compare and Contrast Speakers
Think about the situation each
speaker faces and the attitude
each one expresses. In what
ways are the speakers alike and
different? Use a chart like the
one
shown to record your
thoughts.
Who is the speaker?
“Life Doesn’t
Frighten Me”
I think the
speaker is a girl.
“On Turning
Ten”
What situation does
he or she face?
How does he or she
feel about the
situation?
8. Make Judgments
Do you think the speaker of “Life Doesn’t Frighten Me” is truly not
afraid? Use examples from the poem to support your answer.
Extension and Challenge
9. Speaking and Listening
Think about the poems’ speakers. How do you think their voices
would sound? Perform a reading of one of the poems for your
class. Use a tone of voice that allows the speaker’s attitude to
come across in your reading.
How do we know we’re GROWN UP?
How would the speaker of each
poem answer this question?